Russia-India to Sharpen Naval and Air Blockade Skills During Joint Exercises Indra-2017

According to the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District, ships from the Russian and Indian navies will practice creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy during the Indra-2017 military exercises.

Ships from the Russian and Indian navies will practice creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy during the Indra-2017 joint military exercises, the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District said Monday."When the practical part of the exercise is held, the ships of [Russia's] Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy will fulfill the tasks of organizing joint air defense at the sea crossing and creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy," the statement said.

The naval portion of the Indra-2017 exercises will take place in the ​​Peter the Great Gulf and at the Klerk range in Primorsky Territory in the Russian Far East.

The crews will practice escorting ships, creating humanitarian corridors, transferring various cargoes on the move, and detaining and inspecting ships that are conventionally captured by pirates. In addition, a search will be carried out for a submarine of a simulated enemy and a counter-offensive naval battle.

Practice for landing and occupation of the coastline with the use of assault landing ships is also expected. Pilots of naval aircraft will conduct helicopter exercises, specifically focusing on landing on the deck.

The press service noted that artillery fire at air, sea and coastal targets will be conducted. The exercise will be completed with three destroyers, a large anti-submarine ship, a supply vessel, a diesel submarine from both sides.

This year, Russian-Indian exercises will be held for the first time in all-encompassing format. Instead of separate naval, air and anti-terrorist exercises conducted in 2016, a single exercise will be carried out involving the Pacific Fleet, and personnel, weaponry and equipment of air and ground units of Russia's Eastern Military District.